Union Minister of Education Shri Pralhad Joshi held a bilateral meeting with H.E. Mr. Philippe Baptiste, Minister of Higher Education, Research and Space of France, in New Delhi on September 28, 2026. The French Minister was on a three-day visit to India from September 28 to 30, 2026. The ministers discussed strengthening cooperation between India and France in education, research, innovation, academic mobility, and institutional partnerships.
Shri Joshi highlighted the longstanding India-France partnership and emphasized that education cooperation is an important pillar of the bilateral relationship. He noted that the India-France Year of Innovation 2026 provides a timely opportunity to deepen collaboration in education, research, and innovation. The Indian Minister thanked the French government for supporting the inaugural edition of Bharat Innovates 2026 in Nice, France, which provided Indian deep-tech start-ups with global exposure and facilitated greater engagement between the two countries.
The discussions covered potential engagements in higher education including strengthening institutional linkages, mobility of students, faculty and researchers, and expanding opportunities for collaborative academic programs and exchanges. Both sides explored greater cooperation in life sciences, social sciences, and humanities, with emphasis on institutional interaction and collaborative research activities. French higher educational institutions were specifically invited to explore opening branch campuses in India, including in GIFT City, Gujarat, and in locations where French companies require technical human resources.
The meeting also addressed opportunities to strengthen language learning and teacher education, share academic expertise, and promote technology-enabled learning. The discussions covered the ongoing revision of the Mutual Recognition of Qualifications Agreement between India and France, sharing best practices in digital education, and leveraging technology to expand access to quality learning. The meeting concluded with both sides reaffirming their commitment to deepen cooperation in education, higher education, research, innovation, academic mobility, language education, and digital learning.